The EU is preparing new sanctions on Russia despite a potential meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, three sources told CNBC.

European Council President António Costa has criticized the trip by Serbia's president to Russia’s Victory Day parade last week.

Also in today’s newsletter, Modi claims Indian military ‘superiority’ over Pakistan, and China’s CATL to raise at least $4bn

Russia's friends in Eastern Europe say EU plans to end all Russian gas and energy imports are tantamount to "economic suicide" and a threat to energy security.

The leader of a British-based Russian spy ring which prosecutors said carried out surveillance for the Kremlin was sentenced in a London court on Monday to nearly 11 years in jail, as his five team members were jailed for a total of about 40 years.

But if it does not and there was even a “modest” return of Russian pipeline gas to Europe, alongside imports from Russia’s gas facility Arctic LNG 2, which has been subject to US sanctions, S&P warns that $120bn of investment in the US industry would be at risk.

They are considered one of the world’s most dangerous, and indiscriminate, weapons. Yet five European countries have turned their backs on an international treaty on the use of landmines, citing the growing threat from Moscow.